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Tea party belies Maoists’ pledge
21 Oct 2009
KATHMANDU: The much anticipated tea party of the Unified CPN-Maoist failed to come to a consensus among major parties with regard to ending the ongoing political impasse.
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ had said that he would make a significant annoucement on the occasion. However, the event proved to be a damp squib. During the reception, he merely appealed to all and sundry to make concerted efforts to end the imbroglio.
CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and NC acting president Sushil Koirala, too, stuck to their stand.
Koirala said that his party would not compromise on the issue of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.
“We wanted to move as per the spirit of the Interim Constitution. We don’t intend
to blame the President,” Prachanda responded to the
NC leader.
Claiming that the Maoists deserved to lead the government, Prachanda, however, said that consensus was the first thing his party desired.
He expressed hope that inter-party talks would work out a solution over the next few days.
Hundreds of people, from all walks of life, attended the first tea party of the main opposition, exchanging greetings on the occasion of Dipawali, Nepal Sambat 1130 and Chhath with party leaders and activists.
On his return from the nine-day visit to China, the Maoist supremo had told mediapersons at the Tribhuvan International Airport yesterday that his party would go to the people if the
opposition failed to come to a consensus.
He said that Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari’s comment on integration was against the Comprehensive Peace Accord and the Interim Constitution.
PM, GPK fail to show up
Kathmandu: PM Madhav Kumar Nepal and NC president Prasad Koirala did not attend the tea reception. Nepal was invited to the function as a senior
CPN-UML leader.
Bishnu Rijal, PM’s press advisor, said no invitation was sent to the PM or to his office. Invitations were sent to the ministers only in their capacity as party leaders.
Girija Prasad Koirala could not attend the reception due to poor health. He is said to be suffering from diarrhoea for the last few days.
Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala and some other ministers, however, attended the event. — HNS |
